Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met soldiers at Nowshera sector in the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Diwali. Since taking over as Prime Minister, Modi has made it a point to meet troops in a border region on Diwali, starting from a visit to Siachen in 2014.

"I am not here as your PM, but as a family member. I have brought blessings of crores of Indians," PM Modi told the soldiers . "The moment I landed here, my heart was filled with thrill. This place's present is an example of your bravery. You have given a befitting reply to all the conspiracies here in Nowshera," he added. Official sources shared photographs of him at an Army post in Nowshera.

The prime minister also lauded the role played by the brigade here in surgical strikes. India had conducted the surgical strike on September 29, 2016, across the Line of Control (LoC) as a response to a terrorist attack on an Army base in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi said many attempts were made to spread terrorism hereafter the surgical strike but they were given a befitting reply.

India must enhance its military capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of war, the prime minister said.

He said that connectivity in border areas has improved -- be it from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Jaisalmer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Borders and coastal areas lacking normal connectivity now have roads and optical fibres, which boosts deployment capabilities and facilities for soldiers, the prime minister said.

Modi also said that earlier the country had to depend mostly on imports in the defence sector but with his government's attempts indigenous capabilities have gotten a boost.

He hailed the courage of soldiers and said their capability and strength has ensured peace and security for the country.

"I want to spend Diwali with family members, so I join you on this festival," he said.

On Wednesday, Army chief General M Naravane carried out an aerial reconnaissance of forward areas, including Rajouri. He was briefed about the prevailing security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jammu region.

An Army operation against terrorists has been going on through the forest belt in the Poonch-Rajouri area. This has been the longest such operation in the recent past and it entered the 26th day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, when Modi left his residence in the morning, there were minimal security arrangements in place and no traffic route was deployed to minimise any inconvenience, official sources said.